11 Day Azerbaijan-Georgia Multi-Country Tours in Caucasus Overview Azerbaijan-Georgia 11 Days/10 Nights Starts from: Baku, Azerbaijan Type: SMALL GROUP tour Dates: every second Tuesday Total distance: 1632 km A combined small group tour to Azerbaijan and Georgia is a journey with guaranteed departure dates, which explores two different cultures with diversity of traditions. Tour starts in the capital of Azerbaijan – Baku, moves to the town Sheki, and from day 3 – continues in Georgia. Group will be guided by two local experts – one local guide for each country. They will introduce you to the most important historico-cultural and architectural monuments of the two Caucasus countries, the UNESCO World Heritage Sites, local cuisines etc. The group is “Guaranteed to Run” after two people book the tour. Preview or download tour description file (PDF) Tour details Code: AZGEO-GR-11 Starts from: Baku Max. Group Size: 15 Adults Duration: 11 Days Start End Seats Price Price Table Availability Reserve Date Date Left From 2022- 2022- Reserve for € 15 € 1438 Scheduled 05-17 05-27 300 2022- 2022- Reserve for € 15 € 1438 Scheduled 05-31 06-10 300 2022- 2022- Reserve for € 15 € 1438 Scheduled 06-14 06-24 300 2022- 2022- Reserve for € 15 € 1438 Scheduled 06-28 07-08 300 2022- 2022- Reserve for € 15 € 1438 Scheduled 07-12 07-22 300 2022- 2022- Reserve for € 15 € 1438 Scheduled 07-26 08-05 300 2022- 2022- Reserve for € 15 € 1438 Scheduled 08-09 08-19 300 2022- 2022- Reserve for € 15 € 1438 Scheduled 08-23 09-02 300 2022- 2022- Reserve for € 15 € 1438 Scheduled 09-06 09-16 300 2022- 2022- Reserve for € 15 € 1438 Scheduled 09-20 09-30 300 2022- 2022- Reserve for € 15 € 1438 Scheduled 10-04 10-14 300 Sights to Visit Svetitskhoveli Cathedral Jvari Monastery Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park Uplistsikhe Caves Vardzia Narikala Fortress Akhaltsikhe Castle at Rabati Anchiskhati basilica Tbilisi Holy Trinity Cathedral Sioni Cathedral of Dormition Ioseb Stalin State Museum Tsinandali Museum Signagi Museum of History and Ethnography Gergeti Trinity Church Shumi Winery Akhaltsikhe Itinerary Day 1: BAKU TOUR Baku sightseeing tour starts on day 1 at 10:00 AM. The first stop is at the Mountain Park, where we can observe Baku Bay and panoramic views of the city. After a short walk in the alley, we drive to the old city to visit the Palace of the Shirvanshahs, which was built in the 15th century and served as a stronghold of Baku in the middle ages. Participants of the Baku old city tour will also explore old caravanserai and bathhouse, medieval mosques, art shops, and last but not least – Maiden tower, 12th-century monument under the UNESCO World Heritage list. Overnight in Baku. Day 2: BAKU – SHEKI After breakfast at the hotel, tour departs to the west – to the town of Sheki. On our way, we will make several stops to see the 15th-century mausoleum of Sheikh Diri-Baba in Gobustan town and 8th century Juma Mosque in Shamakhi town. In the evening, we arrive in Sheki. The evening Sheki tour explores Sheki fortress, Palace of Shaki Khans, old caravanserai and mosque. Overnight in Sheki. Day 3: SHEKI – SIGHNAGHI After breakfast, we take a short excursion to Kish – a village located 5 km from Sheki. The main attraction of the village is the Church of Kish. The existing church building is estimated to be constructed in the 12th century and has served Caucasian Albanian, Georgian and Armenian churches at different times through history. However, archaeologists found that the church stands on much older, ancient cultic sites. From Kish, we drive to the eastern border of Georgia. The tour guide will assist the participants with border formalities. On the border, we change the vehicles. From now on local Georgian guide will assist you and continue the tour. From Georgian-Azerbaijan border we drive to Sighnaghi – a town in a traditional wine-making Kakheti region in east Georgia. Surrounded by the medieval city wall, Sighnaghi stands on the hills of the Gombori range, overlooking Alazani river valley. We are going to visit the Sighnaghi Museum that has several important collections and exhibitions, such as the ethnographic and archaeological exhibitions, and collections of the works of prominent Georgian painter Niko Pirosmani. Afterward, we can take a walk in Sighnaghi streets and park. Overnight in Sighnaghi. Day 4: SIGHNAGHI – TSINANDALI – SHUMI – TELAVI - TBILISI On day 4, after breakfast, we depart from Sighnaghi and drive to the village of Tsinandali to visit Aleksandre Chavchavadze House Museum. Aleksandre Chavchavadze was a well-known 18th-century Georgian aristocrat, military figure and poet. Nowadays Chavchavadze’s residence, garden, and wine-cellar function as a museum and attracts lots of visitors. From Tsinandali, we move to Shumi – where we can take a look at another, Shumi winery and the wine museum “Vazioni”, where visitors can taste local wine and snacks. Our next stop is Telavi – the major town of Kakheti region. In Telavi, we can visit medieval fortress that served as a residence of the Kings of Kakheti – Batonistsikhe. We make a short Telavi tour and afterward depart for Tbilisi through the Gombori pass (1620 m). Overnight in Tbilisi. Day 5: TBILISI CITY TOUR Tbilisi city tour starts from visiting the Holy Trinity Cathedral (Sameba), one of the tallest Orthodox Christian churches in the world. From Sameba, we move to Metekhi Plateau and Metekhi church built in the 5th century, located on the cliff over river Mtkvari and the old city district. From Metekhi we move to Narikala fortress – ancient fortification overlooking Tbilisi from the hill, which can be reached by an aerial cable car. From Narikala we take a walk through the old city full of various attractions and sites: the National Botanical Garden of Georgia, Jumah Mosque, Legvtakhevi canyon and waterfall, Abanotubani – historical sulfur bathhouse district of Tbilisi, Shardeni and Erekle II streets and the glass Bridge of Peace. Tbilisi city tour finishes at Meidan Square. Overnight in Tbilisi. Day 6: TBILISI – MTSKHETA – ANANURI – GUDAURI After breakfast at the hotel we drive to the north to Mtskheta – historical capital of Georgia, located near Tbilisi at the convergence of the two rivers of Mtkvari and Aragvi. In Mtskheta we can take a look at two UNESCO World Heritage Sites – Jvari Monastery (6th century) and Svetitskhoveli Cathedral (11th century). After Mtskheta tour where we can visit handicrafts, souvenir shops and wine cellars located in the center of the town, we head to the north and drive on the Georgian Military Highway. On our way to Gudauri we make a stop near Zhinvali reservoir and visit Ananuri Architectural Complex that was once a fortification and residential building of local dukes. In the evening we arrive at Gudauri ski-resort, located at an elevation of 2196 m above sea level. Dinner and overnight in Gudauri. Day 7: GUDAURI – KAZBEGI – TBILISI On day 7 after breakfast, we drive to Kazbegi town. On our way, we make a stop at the travertine hill and taste local mineral waters. After our arrival in Kazbegi we set off for Mount Gergeti trek. Mount Gergeti is famous for its Holy Trinity Church built in 14th century, which stands under the Kazbegi glacier (5033 m) while overlooking Kazbegi town. After the Mount Gergeti trek, we come back to Kazbegi town and drive to Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi. Day 8: TBILISI – GORI – UPLISTSIKHE – BORJOMI – AKHALTSIKHE On day 8 after breakfast, we head to Samtskhe region and drive through Kartli province. Our first stop is at Gori town, where we will visit the museum of Joseph Stalin. Museum consists of Stalin’s memorial house, exposition building with a tower and a personal room with belongings. Our next stop in Kartli – Uplistsikhe cave complex is another popular site located near Gori. Uplistsikhe represents an ancient cave complex, which is one of the oldest urban settlements in Georgia dated back to the 1st millennium BC. The next stop is in Borjomi – a spa-resort in Mtkvari ravine, where well- known mineral water ‘Borjomi’ comes from. After a walk in Borjomi park, we depart for Akhaltsihke and arrive there in the evening. Overnight in Akhaltsikhe. Day 9: AKHALTSIKHE – AKHALTSIKHE CASTLE – VARDZIA – AKHALTSIKHE After breakfast, we start Akhaltsikhe (translated as a “new castle”) tour and visit its most remarkable monument – Rabati, a medieval fortress, and castle. Akhaltsikhe Castle excursion includes Rabati museum, 14th- century Jakeli Castle, fortress church and the St. Marine church. From Akhaltsikhe, we leave for Vardzia in the afternoon. Vardzia is another famous cave complex located in Samtskhe. It is a rock-hewn cave monastery founded in the 12th-13th century. In the evening we drive back to Akhaltsikhe. Overnight in Akhaltsikhe. Day 10: AKHALTSIKHE – TSALKA – TBILISI On day 10 after breakfast, we leave for Tbilisi. Our way to Tbilisi goes through Javakheti Plateau, where we will make several stops at the alpine lakes of Sagamo, Paravani and Tsalka reservoir. In the evening we arrive in Tbilisi. Overnight in Tbilisi. Note: In case you want to travel longer, please see the extensions or contact us [email protected] Those taking extension trips to Georgia will start their tour next morning after breakfast. Day 11: TBILISI Breakfast at the hotel. Check out time before 12:00 pm. End of service. Inclusions Included Transportation: 1 x transfer from Lagodekhi border on day 3; Transportation service all days; 1 x local jeep in Kazbegi on day 7; English speaking Guide & Driver service all days; 1 x overnight in Baku 4* hotel